The Cheapest University Cities

By Simon Thompson

By Elizabeth Whittingham

University is never going to be a completely affordable experience, despite this, there are some choices that you can take to make sure that you can save your pennies whilst still having a brilliant time in a student destination of your choice.

Here’s a list of the top ten cheapest cities in the UK, all of which are bound to deliver a brilliant student experience, at a fraction of the cost.

10. Ashton University, Birmingham

When it comes to affordable places to study, Ashton University is a pretty good choice. Compared to its counterpart, The University of Birmingham, studying and living in Ashton halls is £18.94 cheaper a week, adding up to a saving of nearly £1000 for the whole year!

Gym memberships are also quite low, at £19.91, whilst the average cost of a pint is sitting at a pretty OK £3.47.

Rent is around £132.29 per week with bills, amounting to around £530 a month.

9. Stirling University, Scotland

Although universities such as Edinburgh and St Andrews have a rather shocking track record for high prices- Stirling University, it appears, is an exception, with the average pint price being just £3.40.

Accommodation comes in at 115.73 per week whilst a travel pass is just £30, only one pound more expensive than the cheapest city to pick up a pass, which isn’t that bad at all.

8. The University of Coventry

Coming in next, the University of Coventry, where a student gym membership will only cost you a tenna whilst a taxi fare is looking at £2.80 per km.

Accommodation is slightly higher however, with rent costing around £135 a week, yet the low cost of living balances this out nicely.

7. The University of Lancaster

Lancaster is off to a pretty good start. The university is apparently home to the cheapest pint in the UK at just £2.80!

Rent comes in at just £139 whilst a cinema ticket is £8.50. Lancaster also have some pretty affordable restaurants and cheap bar entry, the whole university is a campus one too so there is little need for transport links, and if you do want to travel far, the mega bus heads through the campus every day, meaning you can travel to anywhere in the UK for pennies.

6. University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle has a rather excellent accommodation rate, at an average of just £117.93, yet their takeaway is something to be worried by, with a kebab costing a whopping £4.20! Despite this, the Northern city ranks at number 6 for affordable student cities, so the nightlife appears to be up to scratch money wise, climbing 11 places in the past year alone!

5. University of Leicester

Coming in at number five, the University of Leicester, with a rather impressive £3.10 for a pint and an incredible offer on their travel passes, which are currently the cheapest in the UK at just £29.

Weekly rent is around £130, but the abundance of cheap alcohol and affordable transport services make up for this.

4. Queens’ University, Belfast

If you would love yourself some cheap, affordable rent, then Queen’s University Belfast is the place for you, with accommodation coming in at around £113, including bills, cinema tickets are just £7 and it will only cost you around 70p per kilometre in a taxi! Bargain.

3. University of Cardiff

If you’re a cinema lover then Cardiff is the place for you, with tickets coming in at just £6.50, the weekly rent is a little eye watering at around £144 but the good news is that Cardiff is the cheapest city in Wales, beating all others by a landslide, so that’s a positive at least.

2. Strathclyde University, Glasgow

Differing to the expense of Edinburgh, Strathclyde University in Glasgow is incredibly affordable, with renting coming in at £117, whilst gym membership stands at just £7.58, meaning that not only will you be fit and healthy, you’ll also have some money in your pocket!

1. University of Lincoln

*drum roll please*

Coming in at number one: The University of Lincoln! Weekly rent comes in at just £118, the travel passes are only £30, that’s number two in the rankings; gym membership is super cheap at £12.50 whilst taxi fares will only cost you around 90p per km!

The cinema is a little pricey, at £8 a ticket, yet despite that, Lincoln trumps all when it comes to affordability.

Although it didn’t appear in the Complete University Guide’s top 50, Lincoln has an extremely affordable way of living with cheap leisure, travel and food.

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